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The Accu-Peak Level Indicator

Realizing the reserve, gain, system headroom, and transient demands of many of today's complex synthesized and traditional program materials and the far more stringent system performance specifications required when using multitrack recording methods, the need is felt throughout the broadcast and recording industries for a more sophisticated device for more accurate measurement and control of program levels. The waveforms and asymmetries present in most voice signals and the transient demands imposed upon any system by the newer synthesized sounds render the standard VU meter somewhat less than adequate for many of today's needs. The continuing quest for the best sound reproduction bespeaks a need for a level measuring instrument of greater precision which may be used by any operator with a minimum of difficulty. This paper describes such a unit and reports on its use in representative systems using all types of program material. Results indicate a favorable response to the new instrument from many experienced operators.